Avalone

Father Paul P. Avalone, S.D.B.

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Father Paul P. Avalone, S.D.B., an educator who served at Salesian High School in New Rochelle, died July 31 at St. Vincent's Nursing Home in Cedar Grove, N.J. He was 86.

He was director of Salesian High School in New Rochelle, 1972-1978, and also served there as a teacher, 1945-1946, and prefect of studies, 1950-1951.

He was superintendent of schools for the Salesians' New Rochelle Province, 1968-1973.

Among other assignments, he was the founding director-principal of two Salesian high schools, in Louisiana and Quebec; was the spiritual adviser to the Salesian Cooperators, a lay group, and the Don Bosco Volunteers, a secular institute; and was chaplain to Salesian Sisters in New Jersey. Also in New Jersey, he taught in the Salesian high school seminary and Don Bosco College, and was a high school guidance director and public relations director.

Father Avallone was the author of two books on St. John Bosco's educational method, "Keys to the Hearts of Youth" (1999) and "Reason, Religion, Kindness: The Educational Method of St. John Bosco." (revised, 1977).

Born in the Bronx, he entered the Salesian novitiate in 1939. He professed first vows in 1940 and was ordained in Italy in 1950.

He held a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Don Bosco College; a licentiate in theology from the Salesian Pontifical Athenaeum in Turin; and master's degrees in educational psychology from St. John's University and pastoral counseling from Iona College.

He is survived by a sister, Mary Oropallo.

Since 2002, Father Avallone had been a member of the Salesian community of St. Anthony's parish in Paterson, N.J., where he previously had served as a parochial vicar. A Funeral Mass was celebrated Aug. 4 at St. Anthony's Church. Burial took place Aug. 5 at the Salesian Cemetery in Goshen.

Father Paul P. Avalone, S.D.B.